Quotations from The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a historical biographical drama film that depicts the life of the final Emperor of China, Pu Yi. The film begins in 1950, where Pu Yi is a political and war prisoner in the Soviet Union after being captured in 1945 when the Red Army entered the Pacific War. After attempting suicide, Pu Yi is only left unconcious. A flashback begins showing the Emperor's first entry into the Forbidden City. Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. Starring Peter O'Toole, John Lone, Joan Chen, and Ruocheng Ying. Based on the autobiography of Puyi.
The Last Emperor won nine Oscar awards, including Best Director; Best Picture; and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. The film was both a critical and financial success. Continue reading for some quotes from The Last Emperor.
The Governor: [setting a recurring theme of imprisonment throughout the film] Open the door! Open the door! Open the door!... Open the door!
Pu Yi, at 15: Where are your ancestors buried?
Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston: In Scotland, your majesty.
Pu Yi, at 15: But then, where's your skirt? In your country, men wear short skirts, do they not?
Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston: No, your majesty, Scotmen do not wear skirts. They wear kilts.
Chen Pao Shen: [as Puyi is heading off to become the Emperor of Manchukuo] If you go you betray your country!
Emperor Pu Yi: [pause, at a distance] Which country?
Pu Yi, at 15: Who is this George Washington?
Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston: A famous American, your majesty. A revolutionary general, the first American president.
Pu Yi, at 15: Ah, like Mr. Lenin in Russia?
Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston: Not quite.
Pu Yi, at 15: Does he have a car?
Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston: He lived a long time ago, your majesty.
Pu Yi, at 15: *I* want a car.
Pu Yi, at 15: Is it true, Mr. Johnston, that many people out there have had their heads cut off?
Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston: It is true, your majesty. Many heads have been chopped off. It does stop them thinking.
Pu Yi, at 15: [in heavily accented English] I know that you know that I know that you know that that is a dialouge between Confucius and Chuang Tzu.
The Governor: [bidding farewell to Pu Yi as he is released from reform camp] You see, I will end up living in prison longer than you!
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